Senior Engineering Manager – Capital Equipment (Electrical & Automation)

Overview

We are seeking a Senior Engineering Manager to lead Mechanical and Electrical Engineering teams for a global manufacturer of high-temperature vacuum furnaces and VPA coating systems. Our equipment supports advanced applications in aerospace, energy, additive manufacturing, and precision industrial markets.

This role is ideal for a hands-on engineering leader with deep capital equipment experience in industrial machinery design, automation, and controls—especially within thermal processing or similar heavy industrial systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage Mechanical and Electrical Engineering departments (approx. 5–6 engineers total)
• Own engineering strategy, execution, and continuous improvement initiatives across product design and development
• Partner with Sales and Project Management to support new business development and customer technical requirements
• Oversee end-to-end capital equipment design: concept, prototyping, production, commissioning support
• Ensure engineering outputs comply with company standards, industrial norms, and customer specifications
• Drive innovation in product engineering, including process flow, system design, FEA/CFD-informed improvements, and automation integration
• Lead industrial automation initiatives including PLC, HMI, SCADA, and instrumentation systems
• Manage engineering budgets, project cost controls, and resource planning
• Conduct performance reviews, staffing decisions, and team development for engineering staff
• Support customer technical presentations and engineering readiness for proposals and design reviews
• Provide executive-level reporting on engineering progress, risks, and cost performance

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (required)
• 7–10 years of experience in industrial capital equipment design and manufacturing (must include designer/builder environment)
• 3–5 years of engineering management experience with direct reports
• Proven experience leading both Electrical and Mechanical engineering teams
• Strong background in industrial automation and controls (PLC, HMI, SCADA, instrumentation)
• Hands-on experience with CAD tools and MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Experience working with industrial machinery systems and customer-driven engineering delivery
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, and technical decision-making skills

Technical Skills

• PLC programming and systems integration (Allen-Bradley 500/5000 preferred)
• HMI/SCADA platforms (Wonderware InTouch, HC900 or equivalent)
• Industrial instrumentation and control systems
• Capital equipment design (thermal systems, furnaces, or large-scale industrial machinery)
• CAD-based mechanical/electrical design collaboration
• Exposure to manufacturing optimization, automation, and process improvement

Preferred Experience

• Vacuum furnace, heat treatment, or thermal processing equipment experience
• FEA/CFD-driven engineering analysis
• Background in aerospace, energy, additive manufacturing, or precision industrial equipment
• Experience in structured engineering environments with formal project governance and budgeting
• Prior work with capital equipment OEMs or industrial machinery manufacturers

Benefits

• 401(k) with company match
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Profit sharing program
• Limited relocation assistance (moving truck costs only)

Work Environment & Expectations

• On-site role in Corona, CA (92877)
• Fast-paced capital equipment engineering environment with cross-functional collaboration across Sales, Project Management, R&D, and Manufacturing
• Strong emphasis on engineering accountability, delivery performance, and customer-driven innovation